JP2017527339A - Container for storing and dispensing liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for storing and dispensing liquid has a generally cup-shaped receptacle formed by a circumferential side wall and a front wall. The piston is slidably accommodated inside the receptacle. The receptacle and piston are combined to form a chamber for receiving liquid. The piston forms a sealing structure that contacts the inner surface of the side wall. The arithmetic average surface roughness of the inner surface of the side wall is 0.05 μm to 4.5 μm Ra. The # 191 container takes measures to allow liquid to be trapped in the chamber while allowing air to permeate into the chamber.

Description

The present invention relates to a container for storing and dispensing a liquid, in particular a container having a receptacle and a piston. The piston has a seal structure that abuts against the inner surface of the side wall of the receptacle. Inner surface of the side wall has a rough surface, the arithmetic mean surface roughness of 0.05μm~4.5μm R _a.

  Dental material is often provided in a device that allows it to be dispensed directly on a desired location, for example, on a dental pad or in a patient's mouth. Such dispensing devices typically have a chamber for holding dental material, an outlet, and a piston for pushing the material out of the chamber through the outlet.

  Various dispensing devices have been designed for dispensing relatively high viscosity dental substances, such as dental filling materials. Some of these dispensing devices are configured for use with applicators that provide sufficient pushing force for dispensing high viscosity dental materials. In dentistry, several types of manually operated applicators are commercially available that provide a leverage to increase hand force to provide sufficient push force. A number of applicators have been designed as reusable tools that form part of the basic device of dental care.

  A particular dispensing device often used to store, prepare and dispense hardenable dental materials mixed from powders and liquids is a so-called dental capsule, which is obtained by vibrating the capsule in a shaker. Mix powder and liquid in capsule.

  US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0056984 discloses a container for mixing and dispensing materials. The container includes a body having a main chamber, a dispensing nozzle, a liquid receptacle, and a plunger. The liquid receptacle has a front portion that is arranged to break when pressure is applied by the plunger so that the plunger can travel the entire length of the body. This allows the filled material in the main chamber to be completely dispensed into the nozzle through the fragile wall. The container is particularly expected to be used for mixing and dispensing dental materials.

  US 2010/261139 discloses mixing and applying capsules for producing and discharging dental preparations. In order to prevent liquid loss, mixing and application capsules have been proposed for producing dental preparations. The capsule includes a capsule body having a mixing chamber for receiving the mixing component and mixing the dental formulation from the mixing component and fluid. The capsule further has an outlet opening for discharging the dental preparation. A first plunger body movable within the capsule body defines a mixing chamber for the capsule body. The first plunger body has a channel for guiding fluid from the cavity to the mixing chamber, and a protrusion. The capsule further has a second plunger body movable within the capsule body relative to the first plunger body. The second plunger has a cavity for containing a fluid. The cavity is configured to receive the protrusion of the first plunger body.

  Such capsules have various advantages, for example, a relatively long shelf life. However, capsules that have such a long shelf life, are easy to use and are relatively inexpensive are further desired.

The present invention relates to a container for storing and dispensing liquids and a capsule comprising such a container. The container and capsule are preferably used for dental applications. The liquid container includes a substantially cup-shaped receptacle formed by a circumferential side wall and a front wall. The receptacle further comprises a rear opening formed by the side walls and a front opening extending through the front wall. The rear opening is closed by a piston slidably received in the receptacle, and the front opening is releasably sealed. The receptacle is combined with the piston to form a chamber that contains the liquid. Furthermore, the piston forms a circumferential seal structure that abuts the inner surface of the side wall. Inner surface of the side wall has an arithmetic average surface roughness of 0.05μm~4.5μm R _a.

  The present invention is advantageous in that it provides a container for storing liquid in a sealed configuration. In addition, the container can store liquid with air, but can hold air and liquid in two separate bulks. Therefore, anaerobic polymerization of the liquid can be prevented without generating bubbles in the liquid. Furthermore, capsules that can be used with the container of the present invention are relatively easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

  In one embodiment, the circumferential side wall or the inner surface of the side wall extends along the longitudinal axis with a substantially uniform cross-section, eg, circular or elliptical. The front wall may extend radially with respect to the longitudinal axis, for example in the form of a disc. Depending on the viscosity of the liquid, the surface roughness can be adapted to adjust any air flow between the sealing structure and the inner surface of the sidewall. For liquids with high viscosity, the surface roughness can be greater than for liquids with low viscosity.

  In a further embodiment, the arithmetic mean surface roughness of the inner surface of the sidewall is substantially the same when measured along the circumferential direction and when measured along a length perpendicular to the circumferential direction. In particular, the arithmetic average surface roughness of the inner surface of the sidewall is substantially the same when measured along the circumferential direction and when measured along the length of the longitudinal axis. Thus, the effect of surface roughness is substantially independent of the piston's positioning with respect to the receptacle.

In one embodiment, the arithmetic average surface roughness of the sealing structure is less than the arithmetic average surface roughness of the sidewalls. Therefore, the force for moving the piston within the container can be minimized. Arithmetic average surface roughness of the sealing structure may be about 0.01 [mu] m R _a and about 1.6 [mu] m Ra.

  In one embodiment, the sealing structure and the inner surface of the sidewall each have a substantially circular cross section. The diameter of the sealing structure is preferably larger than the diameter of the inner surface. In this way, a press fit is formed between the sealing structure and the surface. The sealing structure may be a circumferential bulge or bulge, but those skilled in the art will recognize that in one embodiment, the piston is cylindrical and the outer cylindrical surface may also form the sealing structure. Will understand. The diameter of the sealing structure may be about 100 μm larger than the diameter of the inner surface. Further, the diameter of the piston can be about 2 mm to about 30 mm.

  In one embodiment, the piston is made from at least one of polypropylene, high density or low density polyethylene, or a thermoplastic elastomer, and the receptacle is polyoxymethylene, polyamide, polybutadiene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, liquid crystal. Made from at least one of a polymer, a cyclic olefin polymer, or polyethylene terephthalate. In a preferred embodiment, the piston and receptacle are each made from high density polyethylene. Preferably, the piston and receptacle are made by injection molding. The receptacle can also be made of two components, for example, a liquid crystal polymer that forms an inner barrier layer against material penetration and a polyethylene that forms a relatively mechanically stable outer layer.

  In a further embodiment, the inner sidewall has a surface structure that corresponds to the negative surface structure of the steel surface that has been sandblasted, electrodischarged or etched. For example, the receptacle may be manufactured by injection molding, and the injection molded part forming the inner surface may be finished by sandblasting, electric discharge machining, or etching. On the other hand, the piston can be manufactured by injection molding, and the injection-molded portion forming the sealing structure can be finished by polishing. Thus, the sealing structure may be shiny or smoother than the inner surface of the sidewall. Therefore, it is desirable to provide one or more open paths through the area where the inner surface and the sealing structure are in direct contact by combining the rough inner surface with the smooth surface of the sealing structure.

  In a further embodiment, the front opening is attached to the outer surface of the front wall such that the foil overlaps the front opening and that the foil and the front wall are separated by being separated from each other when a predetermined threshold force is exceeded. Closed by a sealing foil. For example, the liquid in the container can be pressurized by pushing the piston into the receptacle, and the pressurized liquid exerts a force on the foil that is greater than a threshold force, so that the foil is (partially) ) Away, the front opening will open. The container can be movably accommodated in a cartridge, for example in a capsule cartridge for dispensing dental material. The containers and cartridges can be combined to form a mixing chamber that holds the powder material. The powder raw material and the liquid are preferably configured to form a dental material when mixed together. The cartridge may further include a nozzle that forms a valve with the cartridge. The nozzle may be movable between a storage position where the valve closes the outlet of the second chamber and a dispensing position where the valve opens the outlet of the mixing chamber.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for making the container of the present invention is provided. This method
A step of preparing a mold having a mold part for forming the inside of the receptacle, the mold part for forming the inside of the receptacle being a surface finished by sandblasting, electric discharge machining or etching; Having a process;
A step of preparing a mold having a mold part for forming a sealing structure, the mold part for forming the sealing structure having a surface finished by polishing;
-Injecting the receptacle and the piston from at least one molten plastic material.

It is sectional drawing of the capsule concerning embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of FIG. 1.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram of a capsule 1 for mixing and dispensing dental materials. The capsule 1 includes a capsule body 11 having a front end portion 111 and a rear end portion 112. The cavity 113 extends from the rear end 112 into the capsule body 11. The cavity 113 passes through the capsule body 11 and merges with the outlet 114 in the vicinity of the front end 111 of the capsule body 11. The cavity 113 is closed by the liquid container 12. The liquid container 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the rear end portion 112 of the capsule body 11 and is separated from the outlet 114. The space formed in the cavity 113 between the outlet 114, the capsule body 11 and the liquid container 12 forms a mixing chamber for mixing the dental material. As shown, in the initial stage, the mixing chamber is preferably (partially) filled with powder material and the liquid container 12 is filled with liquid. The capsule 1 is adapted to be actuated by a user. When the capsule 1 is actuated in this way, the liquid is moved into the mixing chamber.

  The cavity 113 has a stepped configuration provided by a front portion 115 and a widened rear portion 116. The cavity 113 preferably has a substantially circular cross section and extends into the capsule body 11. The front portion 115 and the front portion 116 extend substantially concentrically, and each has a substantially uniform circular cross section. Thus, the transition between the front portion 115 and the rear portion 116 forms a step 117 in the cavity 113. The step 117 forms a resistance for preventing the movement of the liquid container 12 inside the front portion 115 of the cavity 113. Accordingly, the liquid container 12 further includes a detent 129 for cooperating with the resistance or step 117, and in this embodiment, a circumferential bulge or bulge. In particular, the detent 129 provides the liquid container 12 with a cross section that is larger than the inner cross section of the front portion 115 of the cavity 113. Thus, the cartridge 12 and the capsule body 11 are adapted so that the liquid container 12 need only be pressed into the front portion 115 of the cavity 113.

  The capsule 1 further has a plunger 13. The plunger 13 has a plug 131 that can be accommodated in the cartridge 12 through the rear opening 124 in order to press the piston 127 toward the front opening 123. Plug 131 has a cross section of a size and shape that substantially corresponds to the size and shape of rear opening 124 of receptacle 121. In the present embodiment, the plug 131 and the rear opening 124 have a substantially circular cross section. Further, the plug 131 can form a cutting edge (not shown in this view) for punching the rear foil 126 of the liquid container 12.

  At the same time that the plunger 13 is moved to the liquid container 12, the liquid moves into the mixing chamber and contacts the powder, and the capsule 1 is activated. In the operating phase, the capsule 1 can be placed in a stirrer (not shown) and the capsule can be vibrated to allow the powder and liquid to mix with each other. The powder and liquid are preferably adapted to combine to form a curable composition. Exemplary powder materials include glass powders or resin-modified glass powders, exemplary liquids include water-based polyacids or monomer-based polyacids with photoinitiators, and mixtures thereof are glass ionomer dental Contains materials. The mixture of powder and liquid typically forms a pasty material that can be dispensed through the outlet 114 of the capsule body by moving the plunger 13 and the liquid container 12 toward the outlet 114. In order to dispense the dental material, the capsule 1 further comprises a nozzle 14 mounted adjacent to the front end 111 of the capsule body 11. The nozzle 14 and the capsule body 11 are rotatable between a distribution position (shown) and a storage position. In the dispensing position, the nozzle 14 opens the outlet 114 of the capsule 1 to dispense dental material, whereas in the storage position the nozzle 14 closes the outlet 114. In the present embodiment, the nozzle 14 is held on the capsule body 11 by the cap 16. In another embodiment, the nozzle 14 and the capsule body 11 can be molded together, for example, by first molding the nozzle 14 and then overmolding the nozzle 14 with the capsule body 11. Furthermore, the capsule 1 has a latch 118 for holding the capsule 1 in a dispensing gun (not shown). Such a dispensing gun is commercially available, for example, from 3M Deutschland GmbH, Germany under the name 3M ™ ESPE ™ Capsule Dispenser. The latch 118 according to this embodiment is formed by a circumferential bulge at the rear end 112 of the capsule body 11. The circumferential rim 119 is arranged away from the latch 118 and further away from the front end 111 of the capsule body. As indicated by the dashed line, the rim 119 may form a finger plate. The finger plate can help to hold the capsule manually while actuating the capsule 1 to bring the powder and liquid into contact with each other.

  FIG. 2 shows the liquid container 12 in more detail. The liquid container 12 includes a receptacle 121. The receptacle 121 of this embodiment is substantially annular and forms a channel 122 that passes therethrough. The channel 122 extends between the front opening 123 and the rear opening 124 of the receptacle 121. The receptacle 121 is preferably made of a plastic material, and in particular may be made of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The liquid container 12 further includes a front foil 125 that closes the front opening 123 and an optional rear foil 126 that closes the rear opening 124. The front foil 125 and optional rear foil 126 each include a continuous layer of metal, preferably an aluminum layer. In one example, the thickness of the aluminum layer is 0.008 mm to 0.1 mm, preferably about 0.03 mm. The metal layer is preferably generally adapted to prevent material, particularly air and moisture, from passing through the front foil 125 and / or the rear foil 126. Each of the front foil 125 and the back foil 126 preferably further comprises a polymer layer, preferably a layer comprising polyethylene or consisting solely of polyethylene. This allows the front foil 125 and rear foil 126 to be heat sealed to the thermoplastic receptacle 121 with a polymer layer. Heat sealing can be performed using a heated tool or by ultrasonic welding. Furthermore, the thermoplastic layer forms a protective layer of the metal layer in order to prevent unwanted chemical or physical interactions between the liquid and the metal layer.

  The front foil 125 is attached along a path closed in the circumferential direction around the front opening 123 of the receptacle 121, and the rear foil 126 is attached along a path closed around the rear opening 124 of the 121. Accordingly, the channel 122 is sealed so as to form a closed liquid chamber by the combination of the front foil 125, the rear foil 126, and the receptacle 121. In this example, the liquid chamber contains a liquid that forms a component of the dental material, as described.

  The front foil 125 and the receptacle 121 are separably sealed at least in a partial region of the circumferential path. In this embodiment, the front foil 125 and the receptacle 121 are sealed to each other so as to be separable as a whole. Such a separable seal is obtained by heat sealing the front foil 125 with the polymer layer facing the receptacle 121 for a predetermined time, a predetermined temperature and a predetermined sealing pressure.

  Thus, the separably sealed region defines a valve that can be opened over a circumferential path. In particular, the interconnection between the front foil 125 and the receptacle 121 when the liquid is pressurized at a certain predetermined minimum or threshold pressure toward the sealed front opening 123. Liquid can be creeped between the front foil 125 and the receptacle 121 to initiate yielding. It has been found that the front foil 125 does not completely separate from the receptacle 121. In contrast, the liquid reproducibly generates only a continuous passage from the front opening 123 toward the outer boundary of the front foil 125. Thus, a portion of the front foil 125 is separated by liquid pressure, but the front foil 125 remains attached to the receptacle.

  A piston 127 is received in the channel 122 of the receptacle 121 to create pressure on the liquid. The piston 127 is disposed between the front opening 123 and the rear opening 124 of the receptacle 121. Thus, the piston 127 is sealed in the liquid chamber along with the liquid. Specifically, the piston 127 is accommodated in the channel 122 and is movable along the channel 122. The piston 127 is disposed in the receptacle 121 such that liquid is enclosed in the receptacle 12 between the foil 125 and the piston 127. By moving the piston 127 toward the front opening 123 and pressurizing the liquid toward the front opening, the valve can be opened and the liquid can be moved to the mixing chamber.

  In this embodiment, the piston 127 has a shape that forms a space 127a in which air is accommodated. With the piston 127 sealed inside the receptacle 121, air is also hermetically sealed inside the receptacle 121. The receptacle 121 is formed by a circumferential side wall 121a and a front wall 121b. The piston 127 forms a circumferential seal structure 127b that contacts the inner surface 121c of the side wall 121a. The arithmetic average surface roughness of the side wall 121a is 0.05 μm to 4.5 μm Ra, and more specifically 0.2 μm to 1.8 μm Ra. This surface roughness establishes a (minute) open path through the area where piston 127 and receptacle 121 are in contact with each other (at the surface peak). Thus, the combination of the piston 127 and the receptacle 121 forms a seal that prevents liquid from passing between the piston 127 and the receptacle 121, but through a path established by surface roughness, Air can pass between the space 127a. Air sealed inside the liquid chamber can be used to prevent anaerobic polymerization of the liquid. On the other hand, since air and liquid are separated by a piston, any liquid moving into the mixing chamber is substantially free of air or bubbles.

  Thus, a certain predetermined amount of liquid may be movable to the mixing chamber by movement of the piston 127 over a predetermined stroke. Furthermore, it has been found that when the piston 127 is moved to the end position adjacent to the front opening 123 to attempt to completely empty the liquid chamber, an error occurs in the amount of liquid that moves. The reason for this is that as the piston 127 approaches the end position, the space between the piston 127 and the interior of the receptacle 12 becomes smaller, and the smaller the space, the more the liquid is displaced toward the front opening 123. This is because the degree of hindrance increases. Thereby, depending on the viscosity of the liquid and the force that moves the piston 127, an unpredictable residual amount of liquid may be trapped in the space. The receptacle 12 of the present invention thus has at least one stopper 128 that stops the piston 127 at a position before the end position. In other words, the piston 127 and the receptacle 12 still use enough space to facilitate the movement of liquid between the piston 127 and the receptacle 12 at a position closest to the front opening 123 of the piston 127. It has a shape that can be done. Thus, the amount of error moving to the mixing chamber can be minimized.

Claims (13)

A container for storing and dispensing liquid, comprising a generally cup-shaped receptacle, said receptacle being formed by a circumferential side wall and a front wall, and a rear opening formed by said side wall, and said front wall The rear opening is closed by a piston slidably received in the receptacle, the front opening is releasably sealed, and the combination of the receptacle and the piston is Forming a chamber in which the liquid is received, the piston forming a circumferential sealing structure contacting the inner surface of the side wall, and the arithmetic average surface roughness of the inner surface of the side wall being 0.05 μm to 4.5 μm A container for storing and dispensing liquid, which is _Ra .   The container of claim 1, wherein the circumferential side wall or the inner surface of the side wall extends along a longitudinal axis with a generally uniform cross section, and the front wall extends radially with respect to the longitudinal axis.   The arithmetic average surface roughness of the inner surface of the sidewall is substantially the same when measured along the circumferential direction and when measured along a length perpendicular to the circumferential direction. The container according to claim 1 or 2.   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the arithmetic average surface roughness of the sealing structure is smaller than the arithmetic average surface roughness of the side wall. Wherein the arithmetic average surface roughness of the sealing structure is about 0.01 [mu] m R _a and about 1.6 [mu] m R _a, container of claim 4.   6. The container according to claim 1, wherein each of the sealing structure and the inner surface of the side wall has a substantially circular cross section, and the diameter of the sealing structure is larger than the diameter of the inner surface. .   The container of claim 6, wherein the diameter of the sealing structure is approximately 100 μm greater than the diameter of the inner surface.   The piston is made from polypropylene, high density or low density polyethylene, or thermoplastic elastomer, and the receptacle is polyoxymethylene, polyamide, polybutadiene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, liquid crystal polymer, cyclic olefin polymer, or polyethylene terephthalate. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is made of   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inner side wall has a surface structure corresponding to a negative surface structure of a sandblasted steel surface.   The container of claim 9, wherein the sealing structure is smoother than the inner sidewall.   In such a manner that a sealing foil attached to the outer surface of the front wall overlaps the front opening, and in a manner that the foil and the front wall are separated by being separated from each other when a predetermined threshold force is exceeded The container according to claim 1, wherein the front opening is closed by the sealing foil.   The container is movably housed in a cartridge, and the container and the cartridge are combined to form a mixing chamber that holds the powder material, and when the powder material and the liquid are mixed together, forms a dental material The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured to.   The cartridge has a nozzle that forms a valve with the cartridge, the nozzle having a storage position where the valve closes the outlet of the second chamber, and a dispensing position where the valve opens the outlet of the mixing chamber. The container according to claim 12, which is movable between.

Images